Daily Archives: March 8, 2012

The state House of Representatives has approved a new Democratic budget proposal by a vote of 53-45. The Democratic House budget is dramatically better than the Republican Senate budget approved over the weekend.

The Democratic House budget does not cut K-12 or higher education funding. It does not cut educator pensions. It does not fund the state takeover of K-12 health care.

The Republican Senate budget cuts K-12 and higher education funding. It cuts educator pensions. And it funds the state takeover of K-12 health care.

For K-12 and higher education, the House budget very closely mirrors the no-cuts budget that had been proposed by the Senate Democrats on Feb. 28.

Now the Democratic House budget goes to the Senate. It’s unclear what will happen next, but the regular legislative session ends at midnight. Earlier today, the Senate voted to defer consideration of SB 6442, the K-12 health care takeover bill that WEA members oppose.

The Senate just voted to defer a vote on SB 6442, the state takeover of K-12 health care that WEA members have fought all session. Republican Sen. Mark Schoesler made the motion to defer, which 26 senators supported. Three WEA members from Central Valley (Spokane) witnessed the vote from the Senate gallery. It’s not clear… Continue Reading

The House could vote on Rep. Ross Hunter’s Democratic budget proposal as soon as this afternoon. See this post for details. Meanwhile, SB 6442 remains in limbo — which is good news for WEA members, who oppose the bill. Several WEA UniServ councils have launched online petitions against the bill. Rainier UniServ Council sent this letter… Continue Reading

At first glance, it appears the new House budget proposal released this morning does not cut K-12 school funding, nor does it include funding for SB 6442, the state K-12 health care takeover bill that WEA members oppose. SB 6442 is an attack on local collective bargaining and it will increase costs while reducing benefits.… Continue Reading